The architect of the third-ranked defense in the NFL wears out yellow pads of paper. David Shaw remembers his father sitting on the living-room couch at all hours, diagramming plays as he watched television.

These days, the diagrams spring to life every Sunday. The Raiders are 4-2 and riding a three-game winning streak, mostly because of Willie Shaw's resurgent defense.

Shaw's impact extends beyond strategic chatter -- beyond zone blitzes and stacked lines and quarterback-rattling pressure. He commands widespread respect in the locker room for the most fundamental of reasons.

Shaw, in his first season as Oakland's defensive coordinator, seldom yells at his players. He worked in New Orleans last season, but he does not coach with Ditka-like rage.

"I'm 32," linebacker Richard Harvey said, wide-eyed and spreading his arms for emphasis. "I have three kids. I'm not interested in somebody treating me like I'm eight. Willie treats us like adults."

Harvey's presence highlights the way Shaw has resurrected Oakland's defense. By now, the refrain sounds familiar: The Raiders ranked 30th in the league in total defense in 1997.

So when head coach Jon Gruden hired Shaw as defensive coordinator, that was merely the first step. Gruden and owner Al Davis soon gave Shaw a loud voice in juggling the personnel on defense.

Shaw coached these players in St. Louis or New Orleans; all five have contributed to Oakland's strong start. The holdover players noticed the input Shaw had and the way he operates -- quietly and thoroughly.

"Willie's given us leadership no one player could provide," safety Albert Lewis said. "He's given us a level of team; he's very professional."

This demeanor helps on Sundays. Shaw initially worked in the press box as defensive coordinator of the Rams (1995-96), seeking the big picture. Now he roams the sideline, eager to look his players in the eyes.

They look back and see calm, stoic intensity. David Shaw, an offensive assistant for the Raiders, knows the way his father reacts in trying times.

This probably traces to Willie Shaw's military background. He was an Air Force sergeant, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam. As an electronic instrument technician, he was based in Thailand and worked on fighter planes.

Those planes flew across Laos, dropped bombs in Vietnam and returned to Thailand -- most of the time.

He's since followed an adventurous coaching path. Two stops at Stanford. Stints at Long Beach State, Oregon and Arizona State. NFL jobs in Detroit, Minnesota, San Diego, St. Louis and New Orleans.

Now, Shaw, 54, is making the most of his second chance as a defensive coordinator. He produced mixed results with the Rams; they made progress in Shaw's first season, then regressed in his second.

His initial mission with the Raiders was ridding them of old habits. They often pointed fingers last season, preoccupied with assigning blame for their troubles.

No longer. Shaw convinced the players they must pursue the ball with vigor; he told them they would become reliable, aggressive tacklers if they knew teammates hovered nearby.

So far, the theory is working. Shaw watches film and immediately looks for the player furthest from the ball. "If he's hustling, we have a chance," Shaw said.

One natural question: Will Shaw have a chance to become a head coach? He embraces the idea, though he's also not interested in self promotion.

"I don't want to get stagnant, where I think this is all there is and I'm fine," Shaw said. "That's not what starts my engine." NOTES: Fullback Jon Ritchie (torn knee cartilage) missed practice again yesterday and is unlikely to play Sunday against Cincinnati. The Raiders may activate practice-squad fullback Jermaine Williams to replace Ritchie. . . . Gruden said punter Leo Araguz will handle kickoff duties against the Bengals. . . . Sunday's game will be blacked out on local television. About 36,000 tickets have been sold; a crowd of slightly larger than 40,000 is expected.